Advocacy & Safety - The Portland Effect

Anybody watched NBC Weather Plus lately and seen the 'Going Green' segment about people bicycling to work? It must be on at least 50 times a day.

If you've seen it, whaddaya think?

Personally, I like it, especially the 'bicycling is in their DNA' comment combined with the guy riding no-hands. What a hoot!

(BTW, the segment isn't just about Portland)

I wonder if the news of the recent incident between cyclist and motorist will taint the image. I haven't seen anything on the news about it, just here... so perhaps it is not being given wide coverage.

^^ Maybe, maybe not, but it sure isn't going to stop the increase in riding. Gas prices aren't getting any lower...

Given that drivers incessantly complain about "scofflaw cyclists," this law-abiding cyclist wonders if all of the new cyclists coming from the ranks of the motorists will take the opportunity to ride fastidiously observant of the traffic laws, or will instead take the opportunity to become "scofflaw cyclists" themselves.

Should be mildly entertaining... :popcorn:

From what I've seen, people get into cycling somewhat clueless... They have been park riders, or rode as a kid; remember some of the rules and adopt some of what they believe or perceive as rules... such as adopting wrong way riding based on what they might have been told as a kid, or what they believe.

Along the way they may see others, or happen to ride with a friend, and may pick up some pointers... some good, some bad... such as running of lights or hugging curbs or taking the lane. These cyclists are also exposed to motorists who themselves have their own notions of cyclists "on their streets."

A few close calls and some successes with bending the rules... and a scofflaw cyclist has been "bred." Enough animosity from a few motorists and the "outlaw effect" is reinforced. Perhaps most motorists the cyclist encounters treat the cyclist neutrally... or even well, but those aren't the "lessons" that "stick." The negative encounters make the biggest impressions... both to cyclists and motorists, thus the perceived mutual negativity that seems to grow and fester for all road users.

It's a downward spiral. Even if a cyclist choses to be the most law abiding rider out there... a couple of poor encounters with motorists can be enough to put some fear into the cyclist... and the laws of physics dictate that the cyclist be on the defensive. Fear generated by close or poor encounters turns into an aggressive mindset...

Hence... the tendency toward "scofflaw" cyclists.

Now this is JMHO... perhaps others have real psychological insight into all of this.

people keep telling me that i'm like 'going green all the way', which is notable. but i'm just doing it cuz its fun and i'm poor.

Now this is JMHO... perhaps others have real psychological insight into all of this.

Insight? - Don't look at me.

But ... :D

I do actually have a theory (although I think it's more social than psychological).

My theory concerns the popularization of a social behavior that had previously been practiced only by a dedicated few.

The dedicated and experienced few will be horrified by much of what the newcomers do. Many of those who have engaged in the activity for a long time (and tend to think of themselves as the "true" practictioners) will regard the newbies as ignorant and their behavior irresponsible.

Some of the old timers will also feel threatened by the influx of newcomers who, they feel, are 'stealing their thunder.'

The general public, which had previously not given the activity much thought, may begin to feel threatened.

It's a recipe for conflict.

Some of the conflict may be an unavoidable consequence of social change.

To a certain extent, the experienced practictioners of the activity may be right in thinking that the newcomers are making a lot of mistakes.

But the old-timers are likely to have a hard time convincing the newcomers of that, in part because old-timers in that situation tend to be pretty good at shooting themselves in the foot by getting all preachy and sanctimonious about the whole thing. The result often is that the newcomers simply turn a deaf ear, not entirely without justification.

Of course, by turning a deaf ear, the newbies throw the baby out with the bathwater and ensure that they will have to learn the hard way what the experienced ones already knew.

The good news is that the growing pains are often temporary. Sometimes (maybe even most of the time), a few of the ideas that the newbies have are good ideas that the old-timers never considered.

The newcomers will probably, eventually, learn, hard way or not. The old-timers can save themselves a lot of needless worry by taking a deep breath and letting the newbies learn from their own mistakes (and, then, hopefully, not say, "I told you so" :D).

Screwing up is a rite of passage.

Personally, I think some big mistakes are being made in Portland but, to some extent, I'm resigned to the fact that mistakes will be made. Newbie know-it-alls often demonstrate the same intolerance to the ideas of those with experience as is demonstrated by experienced know-it-alls to the ideas of newbies-- ain't being close-minded grand?

In summary and in other words: things may get worse before they get better, but things may work out fairly well eventually.

There are generally favorible trends although there are sure to be setbacks.

It's a nice day if it doesn't rain.


I wonder if the news of the recent incident between cyclist and motorist will taint the image. ..In a perfect world, that incident should be, at most, a one-day local story. Drunken behavior is not news.

Of course, it's not a perfect world and it appears that what should, at most, be a minor story will be (already has been) blown all out of proportion (you gotta love ambulance chasers).

Can't we just enjoy the fact that NBC Weather Plus is running a "Pedal Power" segment 50 times a day? Must we look for the bad?


I know, I know; nobody watches Weather plus besides weather geeks like me.

But I still get a kick out of the "the only bike in America named for a city" segment.

This is 1973 all over again. Back then, as a starving UCLA grad student, I worked part-time at a bike shop. With newbie customers, we admittedly spent more time explaining how to use the brakes safely and how to change gears than we did preaching about how to survive in traffic. Folks did tend to obey traffic controls, because the LAPD would periodically crack down on those who did not, but most of us rode farther to the right than we should.

This is 1973 all over again. Back then, as a starving UCLA grad student, I worked part-time at a bike shop. With newbie customers, we admittedly spent more time explaining how to use the brakes safely and how to change gears than we did preaching about how to survive in traffic. Folks did tend to obey traffic controls, because the LAPD would periodically crack down on those who did not, but most of us rode farther to the right than we should.

Back in the '70s it was quite common for a strapped in cyclist (real toe clips, nailed on cleats) to simply lean against a pole or stopsign or even another car... the first two situations would be considered "curb hugging" today, the latter, leaning against a car, would be sure to cause conflict today. The other technique (which I was pretty good at) was leaning against a fellow cyclist... just using the tips of the fingers to maintain balance.